Monthly Archives: October 2015

We are grateful to the Friends of Hopwas Woods for the following information:-

On Monday 26th. October there will an emergency closure of the bridleways that run through Hopwas Wood from Wood Bridge through to Whittington. The bridleway from Hopwas Hill will also be closed at the Tarmac/MoD boundary. This will be effective for 21 days and in the meantime a temporary closure order will be made, closing the bridleways for a period of 18 weeks, which will be advertised in the local paper. The closures are to facilitate work on the firing ranges and improving the bridleways through the wood so that they can be used by military vehicles. This will necessitate the removal and cutting back of some trees either side of the bridleways and the surface of the bridleways will be stoned such that they are suitable for horses to use.Work is also being carried out to repair/reinstate the fence between Tarmacs land and the MoD, which the MoD should have done when the land transfer took place a few years ago.

A meeting between the MoD and Lichfield District Council will take place shortly and if we have any further information we will update this.

Wigginton & Hopwas Parish Council has now submitted the Wigginton, Hopwas &
Comberford Neighbourhood Plan to Lichfield District Council. In accordance with
section 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 Lichfield
District Council are required to consult on the Wigginton, Hopwas & Comberford
Neighbourhood Plan. Details of this consultation and how to respond can be found by
visiting www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/wiggintonhopwasnp
The consultation period lasts for 6 weeks and runs from Friday 23rd October
2015 to Friday 4th December 2015 at 17:15pm.

A defibrillator has been installed at Coton and Hopwas Social Club, off School Lane. It is currently only available during opening hours (after 5pm) but there will shortly be a cabinet installed outdoors so that it can be accessible 24/7. Further news to follow!

If you are with someone with a suspected heart attack please go and use it, there are full instructions given when you open the device. You could save their life!

We’re writing to you to confirm that our determination of the application for a permit is complete and that we have decided to issue a permit to Bodnetts Commercial Ltd to operate a non hazardous waste transfer and treatment facility at Bodnetts Farm, Plantation Lane, Hopwas, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3AU.

The reasons for our decision are:

We’re confident that Bodnetts Commercial Ltd is not associated in any way with MC Recycling Ltd, the previous operator of the site.

We’re satisfied that they have the means to carry out their activities in accordance with the standard rules permit reference SR2008No3, without harm to the environment or human health.

They have agreed to clear waste currently stored outside the building before accepting any other waste onto site.

They have also agreed to remove the waste from the land at the rear of and outside of the site.

They have agreed to repair any damage to the site infrastructure within timescales which will be agreed with the Environment Agency.

They have submitted a draft management system which has been assessed and we believe is fit for purpose. The management system includes a commitment to work in accordance with the conditions of the permit and the sites planning consent (ref L.10/03/810).

The reasons for our decision not to consult further are:

All of the reasons stated above.

Many of the issues raised during the consultation could not be considered when making our decision as they fall outside the Environment Agency’s remit. Concerns regarding site location, size of site, operating hours, impact on traffic and parking of vehicles are matters for Staffordshire County Council Planning Department. We have shared these concerns with the council.

Some of the issues raised during the consultation are not concerns for Bodnetts Commercial Ltd to respond to. Concerns regarding the possible contamination of land and groundwater in the vicinity of the site are matters which we’re going to investigate.

We have compiled a summary of the comments made during the public consultation. If you would like a copy of this document or have any further questions, please email us at swwmcustomers@environment-agency.gov.uk or write to us at Environment Agency, Sentinel House, 9 Wellington Crescent, Fradley Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 8RR.